The Annual Running thread - beginners/ultras/whatever

Nobeerinthefridge

Subscriber
‘the Blades’ Duckman?
Posted 15 minutes ago

Well, got told off last year for describing the LG as an ultra, so not sure if 31 Miles counts...

Run the blades? I'm doing that too. 👌🏻

I'm in.

Well done! Did you not join the club anyway?

I never got round to it.

I thought entries opened in April. Glupton noised me up the other day to say they opened now.

I’m going to have an attempt at the Joss Naylor Challenge in June. https://www.gofar.org.uk/jossnaylorlc.html
This is an enormous challenge for me and I’m not really sure I actually capable of it if I’m honest. The hard work starts now.

The JNC is said to be hard especially for the 50+ category. A lot of people wait until they are 55 then try it. One of my BG pacers paced someone on the JNC and said the required pace was much faster.

Good luck!

Thanks Whitestone. Apparently the V50 version of JNC is equivalent to an 18 hr BG. :-0
Lucky (kind of) that I'm 56 so get 15 hours. I should have had a go at the BG when I was a mere youth of 40 or so and I've always regretted not doing. This is to make up for it, hopefully. I like the idea that you have to raise money for a charity too so have chosen Prostate UK. I *may* be asking for people to chuck a quid or so in nearer the time.

You're all mental 😀

Good luck Mr Sparkle. Same as you I wished I had done the BGR years ago (55 in October)

Well I joined the Aberdeen metros today

Closest to a runner I've ever been.

Also hit 200bpm during the pyramid session tonight

There was very much moaning about the lairig ghru race being full. I kept very quiet on that front

😂

Took a wee while to sell out last year, must be the media exposure.

The adventure show effect.

Happened to the snow roads audax -used to be able to show up in the day. ...now it sells out early doors.

Strathpyffer . 2006 we got in the week before ... Now you have 45 seconds

Yeah, I suspect some folk may be launching their tellys out the window afterwards...Not you obviously...You will probably just turn round and run home.

Well, thanks to the advice of folk on here (and a not-too-bad sale price) I ordered myself a pair of Nike Pegasus 35 to replace my geriatric Sauconys. I followed the Nike size guide which suggested I needed a 9.5, but after some folk on here (lunge I think) suggesting that they fit quite small I changed my order for 10.5s, which is what I usually wear. They arrived yesterday to my great excitement.

First impression: holy cow! They're BRIGHT! (I ordered these in red, and they're a flourescent, retina burning shade of red. Awesome.)

Second impression: they're light. My old shoes aren't especially heavy, but these are noticeably lighter.

Third impression: they're snug. The 10.5s felt (pottering around the house) like a really nice fit - no need to lace them super tight, just the right length. I've struggled with running shoes before as to get the width I need I've had to go half a size larger, which isn't ideal. These seem spot on, and the nice wide toe box gives me plenty of room, with no obvious rub points or seams.

Obviously with new shoes it would have been rude not to go out for a run, and since Minimonkey woke me up needing a change at 6am I thought I might as well pop out before work.

I did my usual 2 mile loop (flat, tarmac) and basically forgot that I was wearing new shoes, which is kinda the biggest compliment I can give. With my old ones either they were laced a little loose so I could feel my feet moving around, or laced tight so they were rubbing on the top of my food - nothing too terrible, but enough to be noticeable. The Nikes just fit. There's significantly more support around the midfoot (where I strike) and I definitely felt springier in my step, though that might've just been a placebo. The last few runs I've done I've been trying to concentrate on keeping a better 'shape' - ie staying more upright rather than hunching down, and I think that felt easier and more natural in the new shoes.

It was the best pace I've done this lap before (8:52/mile, which is the first time I've been under 9 minutes so quite a nice threshold to pass) although interestingly not my best mile or two mile time according to Strava. I think I'm definitely getting better at finding a pace and holding it (for the 2 mile loop at least).

Anyway - thanks again all for the shoe advice, hopefully they'll be as comfy after a few runs as they are now.

Yeah, I suspect some folk may be launching their tellys out the window afterwards…Not you obviously…You will probably just turn round and run home.

I paid for the bus- but now you mention it Running home does sound preferable to a bus i HATE busses.

Shite!

Message from mate - "my wife can't do the Forest of Dean trail half-marathon...we can transfer her bib to you if you fancy it..."

Me (thinking I need an excuse to say no) - "we've got visitors that weekend, not sure I have a 13 miler in my legs at the moment, but I wouldn't be able to make it anyway. Thanks for the offer."

Prospective Visitors: "Sorry, we can't make it. My dad is quite unwell so we need to get up to York to see him."

Me in a fit of excitement to mate: "Our visitors have cancelled. Is there still time to transfer that entry? Here are my details, ICE etc."

Message from mate: "All done. See you Sunday morning."

Me: "Great!"

I haven't run anywhere near a half in around 4 years! I'm now in the "well, anything under 2 hours would be great!"

😆

You'll be fine Darcy, I actually much prefer half distance to a 10k, but that's cos I tend to take a half too easy!

Just turn up and run, can't do much more than that now and I reckon you'll bloody hate it the following day.. But a day out with your mate? Priceless and whilst running, painless.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to it really...just getting the excuses in early. I haven't trained for anything like it, and would like to be more capable. The trails I've done recently have been great fun though. I reckon the kms tick by less noticeably than when on the tarmac. Have to cover 23 miles in July, so need all the practice I can get. This is a water-stationed race so don't need to worry about carrying water or anything like that.

Terry, ask RD about the bridge on the way back...

Yeah it seems we got mixed up with who RD was.... I asked Rich about keys....he had no idea. I assume you meant Andy ?

I went out today and did 18km off-road from the door

Took 10k for the legs to wake up after Thursdays interval session at the track ....once they came online they felt good and the km splits came down. Got home , quick feed and put up 18ft of fencing as some cross training. Swinging the framing gun fair makes your arms ache.

30k trail race tomorrow for me. Regretting signing up now, it's twice what I've run up to now (it'd sneak into AL fell category) and I've barely run in the last two weeks with a sore knee. Ran the first half of the route yesterday to test the knee.. felt alright but finished with an egg shaped lump on my kneecap which has now gone down and seems ok again. What irritates it most is braking on downward slopes. Steps and rocks are ok unless the drop is over a couple of foot. Anyway, will line up in the morning and try to scrape around within the time cuts.

What about drinking? I'll be out for 4h , forecast up to 20°. Not taking anything with me, I know what I'd drink on the bike, but I've heard runners complain about drinking too much. On 2h runs I don't drink anything, but try to get the best part of a litre down an hour or so beforehand. Any tips?

My legs are giving me a load of pay-back for forcing them into a half this morning. Think my last one was over ten years ago - crikey, they really are bollixed! 😂

But worse are my feet - brought both road trainers and trail and saw everybody wearing road so put those on - they’re absolutely knackered so I felt everything through them. Managed to miss a corner of a toe-nail which rubbed against its neighbour so had a nice pair of bloody toes when the socks came off. What a mess. 🤣

The Forest of Dean Spring Half is a lovely event though. Some long tough climbs in it - but all on hard forest cycle trails. Really nice atmosphere there and loads of support out on the course. There was even a rave in the forest still going around 1100 with a few random bodies having snoozes in the ditch as we ran alongside. Nutters. Glad I did it, just wish I’d entered properly and actually trained for it.

EDIT: And the weather. What a smashing day, never thought I’d be pouring cups of water over my head in March.

Well done Mr D! 😊

Awesome 👍

I did 15k in the blazing sunshine yesterday..

Weekly running totals back up to over 40k a week (first time in 4mths)

Building running strength, heading to hills next weekend and weekend after that Yorkshire Dales moors here we come 🔥🎗

Awesome, well done DD! Sounds like a cracking event.

Well done DD.
I had a recce of Leg 2 of the Joss Naylor Challenge course. I got my wife to drop me off at Kirkstone Inn car park. Straight up Red Screes then heading over to Dunmail via Hart Crag, Fairfield and Seat Sandal. I usually run with other people so it was nice to do this on my own. Not many people on the hill either so a lot of the time I had the place to myself. My phone died on the way round so it was a lovely surprise to get to arranged pickup point to find no sign of the Mrs. I ended up running down to Grasmere, found the (empty) car on the way and found her strolling round the village with the dogs!
Anyway, a worthwhile exercise (sorry). 9.5 miles and 3,000' climb in the bank.That's 2 legs reccied now.
In other running news - I went to the Pete Bland sale at Wilf's on Saturday and bought a pair of Salomon Speedcross for £50. Result.

A great weekend for running and sounds like some great efforts too.
I doubled up with a parkrun Saturday and then my 'main' pre-London race, East Hull 20.
The weather was great although it's pretty exposed out on course and a pretty strong headwind for a couple of sections or about 1 and 2 miles.
I managed to hit target though and just sneaked under 2 hours for the first time. Hopefully I can keep this going for another few weeks and be primed for the marathon.

@alanf does that go down the old railway towards Hornsea? Nice day for it if a bit breezy!

@fmc It does use a little bit on the way out and then about 3 miles on the way back, just before getting back into the housing estate.
It uses mainly the back roads to Long Riston and then does a loop back to Long Riston of about 4 miles and then back down the same roads until you get to around Swine and then its the old railway back.
Yes, it was a bit breezy but other than that was lovely weather.

Anyway, a worthwhile exercise (sorry). 9.5 miles and 3,000′ climb in the bank.That’s 2 legs reccied now.

Wit woo! That's some amount of elevation - fair dues. And thanks all for the well-dones. Have had a chance to peruse results and try and drag any positives out of them.

My last half was Cardiff in 2009 - managed to find the email with my result! Nearly ten years ago - can't believe it's been that long since I ran one. It was my pb - 1:39:28 on a fast flat course. Yesterday was 1:45:57 - thankfully I managed a sprint to get in under the 1:46 although sub 1:45 would have been nice. Elevation gain was a shade under 250m and without having trained for the race, I was happy with an extra six minutes. I was around a third of the way down the field in both overall male and VM45. But really I need to just go out and run hills more - I was averaging just under 5m/km for 19 of the 21km but km 11 and 19 let me down with 6m/km pace - both kms with hard climbs - and I specifically remember really struggling for energy during 11 and being absolutely ****ed during 19 thinking "only 2 and a bit to go, only 2 and a bit to go, only 2 and a bit to go" as a bloke that looked around 70 jogged past me (I did catch him on the sprint to the line though - go me!).

So all in all, I'm reasonably happy with my day's work. There's a repeat of the event in Autumn which I think I'll definitely enter to see if I can get back under 1.40 again after a Summer's training.

30k trail race tomorrow for me

Drinking (and knee) turned out to be the least of my worries. First 20k went ok, was running in a group that suited my pace (though I was seeing some worryingly big numbers on my HR) then pop, I was gone. Last 30 mins a thoroughly miserable death march, felt sick, dizzy, drunk, running hurt but so did walking. I scraped in at 4:28, just a couple of mins before the cut off but I think they relaxed it as there were some staggering in a good 15mins later.
Not sure what to take from it - I knew it was too soon to be attempting a tough one, with the knee as it was beforehand I'm just happy to have finished.
Just got an email from the organisers of a race on Sunday, it was full they've given me a start. 20k 1300m, so again a bit on the long side.

Nice one Mr Sparkle. How did your time compare to the pace you are hoping to run at??

I had a walk/jog up to the Dodds on Saturday with the dog, lovely day out but a running injury stopped me from running it all and I had my boots on. In the Lakes over Easter so hopefully Mrs Surfer will drop me off in Threlkheld and pick me up in Dunmail so I can look at leg 2.

Well done bob - sounds like a tough day out - certainly puts my whinging into perspective. Good work for finishing.

After a few days in India with slightly higher temperature and humidity than normal, combined with jetlag etc, I returned home on Friday morning a bit down on my usual weekly miles. Made up for it with a hard session on Saturday morning, slightly easier session Saturday afternoon, then a long run Sunday morning. 70km for the weekend made for some sore legs for traipsing around Kew Gardens shortly after my long run! A slightly easier week now before the Orion 15 mile XC race on Saturday 🙂 I've come 2nd for 2 years in a row, hopefully I can go one better this time!

Made up for it with a hard session on Saturday morning, slightly easier session Saturday afternoon, then a long run Sunday morning.

Look dude, this kind of madness has to stop. 😀

Cheers surfer. I took it nice and steady, checked nav a few times and ended up running a bit further and it took me 2 1/2 hours. I get 2:20 for that leg on a 15 hour schedule. I’m quite happy with that.

Had to dig down to page 5 to find the running thread, that won't do!

Post mortem on Sunday's debacle - the mysterious implosion on 20k became less mysterious when I looked at Strava - PBs all over the first 8k (shared with my twice weekly 2h loop) - burnt matches everywhere.

Tomorrow is slightly more suitable - 20k and 1200m - if I keep a lid on the first climb which goes up about 800m in 7km. I know the area a bit from MTB, the ridgeline from there will be blast if I've got legs.

Couch to 5 k was going well but had a week off at week 5 as I had discovered I had high blood pressure (hereditary, everything Else tested was good, mum had from young despite being v sporty)

Back on week 6 running for 20 mins and feeling good. Feeling better on the bike and swimming a couple of k’s a week.

Been getting sore shins, like someone’s standing on them. Doc says it’s shin splints so I’m off the running and swimming and cycling for a few weeks. They seem quite a bit better already. I’m gutted as I had been really enjoying being able to run.

Just walk ?

Blinking HOT and dry trails eh!

God I love the hot weather.

🤩🚶‍♂️🌞🌞

Deuchary Canter at Dunkeld tomorrow. Not expecting to set any heather on fire.

New tattoo meant no running for 4 days, decided to use it to have a rest week. I bloody miss running though, I seem to run better if I run pretty much every day.

Back into it now, and have to say joining the club has been brilliant, I've never experienced a more positive group of people, so different from my bike club experiences.

Best of luck tomoro spin, and stick at it burko. 💪🏻

Bit disappointed after today's race. Amazing conditions, stunning scenery, organisation, so far so good. First 9km just went up and up, 850m ascent, but I kept a lid on it after the horrors of last week and felt good for the ridge. But... My foot just stopped working. Got steadily worse and I watched the few people who were behind me start to fly past. The descent was grim, legs were good, had loads in the tank, just couldn't put any weight on the foot. Limped home in 2h50, 21k 1200m all in.
Can't even walk now, it's a mystery, it's not swollen or tender to touch, feels like the arch, metatarsals. Wondering if it's just knacked after compensating for the other knee for so long.

Good crowds on the tops though! https://twitter.com/b0b_summers/status/1112415108209274880?s=19

Where was this ?

@Bikebouy - Arantza, about 45 mins from San Sebastian. Route here: https://www.wikiloc.com/trail-running-trails/ii-arantzako-mendi-itzulia-15288801

Keep at it @burko73, keep walking if you can't run, and decent shoes seem to make a difference to injuries. That and building it up steady like.

Bit of a weird random question - does anyone have a dead Forerunner 405 they don't want (or want to resurrect, I guess). Mine has cracked on the case where the strap attaches so is currently pretty much useless, so if anyone has a case kicking around they don't want I'd happily take it off your hands - or send you my innards, 'cos either way it's useless at the moment.

Good crowds on the tops though!

Have to say I prefer the terrain in Madrid, but the local support you get for races in the north is something else!

https://twitter.com/keithdunn/status/1112612229227134977?s=21
😂
Might give it a go next year.

That's nuts!

Slightly different weather for the Orion 15 this year than I’ve experienced before, certainly no gloves or arm-warmers required on Saturday, sunglasses were the order of the day instead! Due to it being so dry I decided that my Inov8 fell shoes were overkill, and that I could probably get away with XC spikes with short/worn spikes fitted. I did slip in an extra set of insoles to provide a bit of extra cushioning. Went off pretty hard with a few Woodford and Victoria Park boys chasing, but after about 5 miles I was on my own and seemed to be going pretty well. Shoe choice was spot on I reckon, some guys just in road flats but wouldn’t have been ideal in the sections of mud which were still around. Unknown to me the course had been lengthened this year as I was expecting the finish to come a bit sooner than it actually did, but despite and extra 1km distance, I was quicker than last year 🙂 Winning margin was just over 4 minutes, 2nd place was the guy who beat me last year. Pretty pleased with 3:45/km for 24.5km of hilly trails. Funnily last year I came into the race feeling pretty fatigued with training, having run ~75km in the preceding week. This year I had run 110km in the 5 days before the race but felt great, so obviously I’m handling the increased training load fairly well. Hopefully this bodes well for a decent London performance.

Have to say I prefer the terrain in Madrid, but the local support you get for races in the north is something else!

Was thinking that too. It was at least a 15k round trip to stand on the top of that hill, no roads anywhere near. I'll make a opint of doing a race down in the capital, my niece has just moved down there and her flat is usuall empty at weekends which makes logistics easy

Turboferret, congrats. Bloody hell, don't think I've ever seen 3.45/km even hurtling downhill

Well done all who raced at weekend including @ajf who did the fearsome Lakes 42.
I did a bit more recce work for Joss Naylor Challenge. Did a mash up of my route and a mate who is doing an anti clockwise Bob Graham route. We had a claggy day out round Wasdale.
https://www.relive.cc/view/2252669989
Video reluctant to namecheck Scafell and Scafell Pike for some reason!
Yesterday I went up Dollywagon Pike with my wife and the dogs. Only 4 miles but 2000' ascent.
My first ever 60 mile week too. :-0

I’ll make a opint of doing a race down in the capital, my niece has just moved down there and her flat is usuall empty at weekends which makes logistics easy

Let me know when you're thinking of coming down and I'll see what's on, although a lot of the races sell out fast... like in 30min of opening the registration page!

Arrived in Majorca (Pollenca) on Saturday.
Aw
Ran 10k up puig de Maria (that's the big refuge on the highest point overlooking the village )and and the calvari steps yesterday for 353m of height gained quickly....largely in z5 for the climbs.

Then we rode to the cap de formentor in the afternoon

This morning I ran to the beach in port de Pollenca along the cycle track 7.5k each way the flatness was welcomed and was done mostly in Z2

Rode to a different light house this afternoon.

No run tomorrow - going into the mountains to do sa colabra .....ok might run when I get back - we will see

@MrSparkle - that's a choice of two for your mate 😉 It's a long climb out of Wasdale whichever way you do the BGR but on a clockwise round you look down on Yewbarrow for a long long time as you descend Scafell.

Let me know when you’re thinking of coming down and I’ll see what’s on, although a lot of the races sell out fast… like in 30min of opening the registration page

CHeers, it's similar here tbh, I was half expecting to rock up and pay a fiver on the day but all three races I've done were full and I only got in via the waiting list!

@whitestone he's tried it clockwise twice so has now decided to have a go a/c. We are yet to find an easy way round it... ;0)

Another couple of race entries in last night. River Ayr way ultra - 40 miles, bussed to start at Glenbuck, then finishes a couple of miles from my house, be rude not to!. Arran half in June as well, no excuse needed to get on the MV Caledonian Isles....

So, a few halves, 2 ultras and a few local 5k races for me this year, and the one on Arran for something completely different.

Guid.

he’s tried it clockwise twice so has now decided to have a go a/c. We are yet to find an easy way round it… ;0)

Obviously it's exactly the same distance and ascent / descent both ways but anti-clockwise seems harder psychologically. A long, long climb up onto Scafell and other significant ascents towards the end. Going clockwise it gets much easier from Great Gable onwards with more descent/flat, shorter climbs and more runnable terrain.

CHeers, it’s similar here tbh, I was half expecting to rock up and pay a fiver on the day but all three races I’ve done were full and I only got in via the waiting list!

You tried to get into Zegama yet? 😀 😀 😀

I like these shots from the weekend 🙂

Fair play @nobeer, some good events coming up there. By contrast I will be doing my 3rd race since op last August, tonight. It's a 5 mile local fell race. It's free and you get some choccy at the finish. What's not to like?!

Sounds awesome Sparkles! Where is it?.

Mogrim, Zegama is somewhere down the bottom of my 'to do' list, about one up from Ehunmilak!

Can I say, once again, how much I like running in the rain? 5 miles on the canals into work today, cool air, heavy rain and I had a lovely time. Warm, sunny runs have their place, but there is something quite wonderful about running when the weather is a bit grim.

@nobeer - https://rossendaleharriers.co.uk/races/pete-hartley-memorial-hill-race/
Possibly a bit far for you to travel to!

Mogrim, Zegama is somewhere down the bottom of my ‘to do’ list, about one up from Ehunmilak!

I did Ehunmilak last year, but it got cancelled after 55km due to storms. Was quite exciting at one point must be said with lightning striking very close by... Still slightly pissed off I didn't get to do the full race, maybe I'll give it another go next year.

Weekend spent out by Braemar doing an outdoor first aid course, but managed to sneak in a trail run or two
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]

I did Ehunmilak last year

Bloody hell!

Possibly a bit far for you to travel to!

True!

I'm keen to try a proper old school lakeland fell race this year, though I'll get my arse handed to me!😂

’m keen to try a proper old school lakeland fell race this year, though I’ll get my arse handed to me!😂

Me too, I'll be in the UK over easter and at least a fortnite in August, have to break my duck since I've joined the FRA

Me too, I’ll be in the UK over easter and at least a fortnite in August, have to break my duck since I’ve joined the FRA

Still places on the Teenager with Altitude on Easter weekend. I'm told it's excellent. Haven't done it before but I am doing it this year.

^ Spin, I do like the look of that but it's way too much for me at this point, being sensible. There does seem to be space on the Newlands Memorial though. 18.5k/1100m, I can get round that.

What exactly does Experience Required mean?

My wife's doing the Newlands. I think experience required basically means able to navigate / look after yourself should the weather be bad or things go tits up.

Yes, the Anniversary Waltz, as was, is an excellent race. Really good route. The TWA is a toughie by all accounts.
Last night didn't go to plan. Felt fine before KO although was in a rush and didn't get a good warm up. Set off and it's immediately up a climb. I was huffing and puffing a bit but soldiered on. About a 1/4 into race and I was struggling and already getting passed by people I knew I should be staying with. I got round and I ran it all but felt like shit when I'd finished. Very unusual for me. Several hours later I still felt rough and was wheezing. And then light dawned. The race goes over several fields and by a wood and I'd had a hay fever reaction to pollen. Had antihistamines so hoping it clears up soon. The positive I take from this is that I managed to tough it out and finish. I'll be interested to see the results when they come out.

Doing couch to 5 k and had my first 20 minute run on Sunday.

The outside of my left foot and ankle is still sore.

I have shims in my bike shoes that lift the outside of my foot should I put them in my runners?

Have tried those neoprene ankle supports but find them too tight on the arch of my foot. Do they make socks with a firm support ankle area but normal sock on the foot?

Zippy, I started at the tail end of last year and had loads of ankle and foot pain. Bit by bit it went away (to be replaced by knee pain and eventually more foot and ankle pain!). My conclusion is, it's just a war of attrition against the injuries at my age! Currently resting/icing the top of my foot...

Spin, I entered the Memorial. For the sake of a tenner, if they don't let me run then it's a day out with the family. No idea how I'll get there yet.

Bob - there's no test. If you say that you have the required Experience then it's up to you.